touchtennis is a new sport created in England in 2003. Its footprint has rapidly expanded across several continents.
We will have two brand new competition standard touchtennis courts at the LTA National Tennis Centre in a few days.Construction has already commenced and this becomes another great stride for us. Thanks to Sam Richardson for his tireless efforts. The courts will be US Open blue and a lighter tone outside the trams.BRING IT!
It's getting closer and with entries closing on Monday September 6th, it looks like the biggest ever tournament. Already 48 players have registered and the top 8 are all there. Sherring is aiming to better his finals showing at the Oz open earlier this year. Jacques is looking to win his first major with Veal close behind. Elliott Mould is on the hunt for his 3rd slam in a year. A record number for any player in the open era let alone in the same year. The race for the number one spot is heating up as well. Mathematically, Elliott needs to win the US and make the finals of one other masters series to be right on Jacques' heels. If Jacques fails to defend his 450 points from last years semi final showing at the Open and mould wins it then he'll only be 250 odd points adrift of the number one who can then only defend points up to the Oz Open where he made the semis last year and Mould won. Ahmad also appears in his final slam of the most glittering career on tour! The press are suspicious though after the British born Pakistani was seen walking into a bookmaker with large brown envelopes. The bookies were unwilling to comment on who Ahmad had backed. The touchtennis federation said they had received reports of large amounts of money being placed on the outcome of the tournament and would take action against any player involved in betting scams! The draw is released here on Tuesday. The touchtennis world awaits!
Jacques stormed to No.1 9 months ago and has now been number one for the entire 2010 season. He's won the Slazenger Grass Court 250, April Masters this year along with a run to the semis of the Oz Open. After reaching the finals of the Stringers World Masters and losing to Mould rumours began that he had approached Ahmad to ask him if he would consider coaching him."I decided to ask Ahmad to be my coach as there are things i cannot see at the time during matches due to the pressures and speed of the game," said Jacques in the press conference. Ahmad, who is retiring from competition at the end of the year is widely recognised as the most knowledgeable player on the tour. He's been called the Brad Gilbert of touchtennis. Among other names."Being number one for this amount of weeks has been difficult to stay motivated....but now i want to break records and i need to be assisting by someone who has broken records. Somebody with wisdom who can open my mind to new ideas and has the eye for detail and will take me to the next level in touchtennis," said the No.1.A man of some contradictions Jacques is humble yet confident. Sometimes the greats are misunderstood. Their genius can be hard for mere mortals to comprehend. And who better to understand the pressures of greatness than a man who topped the rankings for 5 years straight.Jacques was less than complimentary about his closest rival when asked about the strengths of his opponent and if he himself had any weaknesses that others could exploit tactically; "My shots are silky, I move well but I'm making bad decisions and Elliott's game bores the s**t out of me. I need some direction during these boring times. I went home after the match and watched the grass grow in my backhard and still found that more exciting and educational than my last match against elliot."Harsh words and a summary dismissal of Mould. "Its the right fit. Jacques and I are both quiet and reserved characters that don't really like the limelight. I've been handed the keys to a ferrari. All I shall do is fine tune it here and there. Its time for me to pass on my experience to the next generation." Ahmad commented later.With Ahmad in his corner, pundits are saying Jacques should be number one for many years to come. Like Gilbert & Agassi, Annacone & Sampras, Ahmad & Jacques may soon be the partnership that people talk of for years to come.
